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Occupy Vancouver 2

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On a more serious note, if you want to divide the 99% into 99,999,999 factions, start issuing ill-thought-out programmatic "demands". What's wrong with the current basis of unity? the 1% against the 99%? the 99% shouldn't pay for the problems created by the 1%? I think it's one of the clearest and most stimulating demands to be put forward in many years, and the proof is the echo that it has achieved. The next step is surely to bring the same simple message into every corner of the society where people live, work, study, play, and integrate with people's real-life needs and struggles. Why would we need all the 99% agreeing with (or even debating) all these individual issues?

I'm pretty sure my post won't be popular, but I don't care.

This is one of my problems with Occupy Vancouver - the whole diffusion of political capital and focus. Another is that it doesn't seem open to regular working or middle class people like the rest of the Occupy movement. It seems to be a bunch of cliche professional protesters. Dismiss that as being afraid of looking "uncool" as much as you want, or not wanting to challenge "common assumptions", but there is something to be said for creating an open environment for the people you want to win over. I mean seriously, why hasn't Occupy Vancouver drawn and sustained an even fractionally as large collection of people as other Occupy movements (other than that first Saturday). Just take a look at the coverage on Dailykos, or other left-leaning blogs, if you don't believe me and think I'm 'influenced' by 'corporate media'.

Admittedly, I'm not a protest-y sort of person by nature, so discount my view if you want. And of course I agree with the general idea that we in the 99% shouldn't have to pay for the 1%'s continued greed. That latter point shouldn't really be up for debate.

All that being said when I went down there to check it out with a friend a few weeks ago, it was a bit of a shit show. I didn't really get the impression I got from the Occupy movements that I've seen in other cities (admittedly from a far, as I haven't actually left the area since Summer). Frankly, I felt like we were pretty out of place (which is odd since we look like somewhat nondescript mid to late 20's people). Other Occupy movements seem to draw from everywhere in society and though they didn't offer up a policy manifesto, I don't think that's important. They've focused strongly on the economic message.

Frankly, the impression I got from the Occupy Vancouver movement is that it isn't very open to people who aren't used to protesting and wants to take on each and every possible issue that those who are involved in it want to take on. It seems to be run by the professional protesters. Sorry folks, but that sort of impression isn't appealing. While it won't take away from the fact that I agree with the general sentiment of resisting the unfair concentration of wealth, it sure as hell won't get me to support it and camp out in front of the Art Gallery.

If you want to know why so many people refer to these folks as weirdos, while agreeing that the rich are plundering society all in the same breath don't just blame the corporate media, or call it schizophrenia and "voting against ones interests", take a look at other Occupy groups and focus on the core message (in favour of economic equality and against oligarchic concentration of wealth).

To VK...I would just say it seems to me that all of the groups, communities and demographics represented within the supposed '99%,' whether or not they bother showing up at the occupy sites, have been going about their respective lives separated for many generations by zones of discomfort built around each individual and collection of individuals. An awareness that Capital owes its success to alienation, estrangement, suspicion, and fragmentation should allow people to better place the blame for such foreignness squarely where it belongs.

To VK...I would just say it seems to me that all of the groups, communities and demographics represented within the supposed '99%,' whether or not they bother showing up at the occupy sites, have been going about their respective lives separated for many generations by zones of discomfort built around each individual and collection of individuals. An awareness that Capital owes its success to alienation, estrangement, suspicion, and fragmentation should allow people to better place the blame for such foreignness squarely where it belongs.

This still doesn't answer my question as to why Occupy Vancouver is a group of professional protesters, as opposed to a broad based movement?

Oh no, wait.... I forgot. People are brain washed into thinking and not just occupying.

I don't question your perception; you may very well be right. You aren't the only person who has said things to that effect.

And yes, I expect it is different in different locations. But I also don't expect the people at those assemblies to voice all my concerns, and I certainly don't think those occupy sites are the only places where people are acting (or should be acting) in resistance to inequity of power and finance.

Those sites are the flash point, and if there is to be change coming out of this, we had better hope that something happens outside of them.

So I wouldn't see it as the end of the movement or the world if a specific site being monopolized by one voice (if that indeed is the case). I am sure there is plenty of other work to be done if we put our minds to it.

And whatever our criticism may be about the way this movement is going, none of it has any bearing on the injustice that is the reason for it in the first place.

..no one should think that occupy vancouver can go away. you may as well try telling that to the rest of the world. what has happened in europe is happening here in the sense that clearer positions are being taken and “socialist” politicians are falling squarely into line. just like europe. and to then place the blame on the occupy. instead of going down there and duking it so to speak. face to face. have a debate. that just may be to much democracy for some folk.

..make no mistake that whatever happens to the occupy can/will happen to you, one way or another. this movement is the most promising challenge to capital going on the planet. it's like a snowball rolling doing a hill. you can't stop it now. it's been to long in the making. whether we as individuals support it or not this is going forward because the world needs it. this is what our children are telling us.

Occupy Vancouver Housing Rally: Housing Is A Right, Not A Commodity
Unceded Coast Salish Territory, November 10, 2011 – The official decision-making body of Occupy Vancouver, the General Assembly, has approved a march to focus public attention on the need for affordable housing in Vancouver, called "Housing is a Right, Not a Commodity."

The march is scheduled for noon Saturday November 12th at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and is to raise awareness around five housing objectives, including steps to achieve the following objectives:.....

I don’t think we would have won without Occupy Wall Street. I really—I can’t imagine how we could have. And this is what it means to change the conversation. And that’s why this whole idea—you know, "What are their demands?" and, you know, "What are they trying to accomplish?" There are already victories happening. And this is just one example of it....

The grassroots movement that started with the Arab Spring has, for the first time in history, made global civil society fully aware of itself and its power.

Now that the grassroots movement that started inadvertently with the Arab Spring has gone global, it is necessary to cast a backwards glance to try and figure out, with some perspective, the dynamics of what has happened, physically and conceptually, over the last year. We propose a simple vision of the process of uprising in 2011, which was consolidated on the past 15th of October as a new culture of popular resistance and creativity. We also aim to point out the recent or enhanced concepts born in the collective consciousness of society during this period.....

In Solidarity with Occupations around the world, Occupy Vancouver will march for a Day of Action, Thursday November 17th. Our first march will gather at the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG), and march at 12:00pm through downtown with key targets: see map

A second marchwill gather at the VAG, for a March at 4pm, with a key target of stomping on Brookfield Properties offices in multiple cities, to show solidarity with #OccupyWallStreet.

Hours before the polls open to elect Vancouver's mayor for the next three years, the city won a court injuction Friday afternoon to have protest tents cleared from the downtown encampent at the Art Gallery.

BC Supreme Court Justice Anne MacKenzie gave protesters until 2 p.m. Monday to clear all tents and structures from the site.

He refuted city allegations there were fire safety concerns, dangerous trenching that imperilled valuable art stored beneath the surface of the plaza, and rats on site.

During the morning court session, Mr. Gratl quoted from regular reports by Vancouver Coastal Health inspectors who found no evidence of rats at Occupy Vancouver.

Noting that many commentators had referred to the presence of rats, Mr. Gratl said the reality of the situation must have been well known to the city. "This amounts to no more than an unsubstantiated smear," he said.

As to the trenching issue, Mr. Gratl said an affidavit from a city employee attesting to the danger did not contain a single photograph.

He produced a number of recent photos showing no trenches deeper than four or five centimetres, likely caused by rain runoff, and noted that Art Gallery representatives have said they are not worried about damage to the art in their below-ground vaults.

The city's claims, he said, represent "a gross exaggeration and an unnecessary spin that amount to fear-mongering about conditions at that site."

Mr. Gratl also referred to statements from Fire Chief John McKearney, who said he was generally pleased with Occupy Vancouver's compliance with fire safety orders.

"We are left with a situation where there are no significant fire, safety or health hazards, as opposed to the very vague generalities of the city, which are overwhelmed by the detailed evidence presented by the [protesters]."

It's official! The courts have granted an emergency injunction that requires us to be gone by 5:00pm. We're on our way into the Registry office right nowe to confirm whether or not that includes people as well as structures. This is for our new location at the Courts! Come down to get more information as it becomes available.

Please come down to help in any way you can! Trucks and able bodies! Voices! Love and support! Thank you!

Come and visit our new site!

Occupy Vancouver is now located at Robson Square, one block south of our previous location. Come and show your support!

Thursday December 1st, 2 pm to 3pm at Pantages Site (150 East Hastings)﻿

On Tues Nov 29th twenty four DTES residents and housing activists successfully occupied the Paris Annex condo development site in the DTES for about three hours to oppose gentrification.﻿

The DTES is not for Developers Coalition is gathering again on Thurs Dec 1st at the Pantages Site (152 East Hastings, near Main Street) at 2 pm. Naomi Klein will be joining the DTES is not for Developers Coalition on Thursday, we hope you do too!﻿

Mayor Eberhard van der Laan visited Occupy Amsterdam to speak about development of the movement

Mayor Eberhard van der Laan is visiting Occupy Amsterdam to speak about development and future of the movement on the Beursplein (stock exchange square).

The discussion is about leaving a ‘point of presence’ on the square, with 1 or 2 big tents for actions, meetings, media etc and making a bigger camp to sleep on another location on the edge of the city....

The Cleveland City Council pass an emergency resolution 1720-11 in support of Occupy Cleveland and the Occupy Movement in general. The final vote from all the Wards was 18 yea and 1 nay.

With the passing of the 1720-11 resolution Cleveland’s largest city council joins other cities (Seattle, LA and Chicago etc.) that also have voiced their official support of the Occupy Movement. The following Resolution was sent to President Barack Obama and all members of the U.S. Congress....

More than 200 protesters meet to 're-group, re-connect and re-engage' Occupy Vancouver movement

The atrium of the Woodward’s building on the edge of Downtown Eastside was occupied for more than a couple of hours on Saturday as Occupy Vancouver members got together to grapple with the future of their movement in the face of Court injunctions that prevent them from setting up base at a particular location in the city...

'Assertive action' briefly blocks Port Metro Vancouver ahead of noon Occupy Vancouver rally
VANCOUVER - A splinter group of a dozen protesters set up two brief blockades of Port Metro Vancouver this morning as a more "assertive action" leading up to today's noon Occupy Vancouver rally at Callister Park in East Vancouver.

Organizers say the blockades of the Clark Drive and Heatley Avenue entrances -- which they claim only went ahead with the approval of rank-and-file longshoreman -- were meant to draw attention to the potentially disastrous environmental impact of oil sands traffic through the Lower Mainland as well as the corporatization of the ports which they claim hurts the very longshoremen they blockaded.....

Occupy Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territory, Vancouver, December 20, 2011 — With 13 of 26 protesters the City promised to find housing for still without shelter this Christmas, Occupy Vancouver is condemning reports issued by City Hall that claim the protest was costly, but well handled.

"It's outrageous to characterize the city's handling of this protest as anything but disastrous," says protester Sarah Beuhler. "They misused city resources, they misled the public and worst of all, they let down the Occupiers they promised to find housing for, leaving 13 of them homeless this Christmas."

Occupy Vancouver points out that the one million dollars in expenses the city claims the protest cost was almost entirely unnecessary: Occupy Vancouver did not incur these costs directly or ask the City for the support of its personnel; they were incurred by the City, as a precaution. In the wake of scathing criticism for their mishandling of the Stanley Cup riots, Occupiers feel the City overreacted to Occupy Vancouver by over-policing and over-responding to the peaceful protest.....

2. We built a city-within-a-city, establishing and sustaining a complex street-level occupation in an urban core that involved thousands of people over 37 days.

This city, while no more free of problems and suffering than the larger city surrounding it, nevertheless placed the free exchange of food and medical services, as well as the free exchange of ideas, at its centre. On this basis I call the city we built a utopian city. It is an idea whose time has come.

3. We provided 37,000 free meals (Food Not Bombs!), housing and community for some 30 homeless people, and operated the only 24 hour free medical clinic in the city.

What more can be said about this? The revolution is love, and we make it in daily acts of caring for one another.